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It happened last month when I wiped and some spots on my underwear. lasted 2 days. This month same thing. I also seem to get the chills. I am scared. I am 65 yrs old.

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Please see your doctor You need a professional to find out what is going on. It may be as simple as a yeast infection or something more complex. Anything anyone can say here is pure conjecture. You need to face your fears and find out, Is there any reason you have not gone other than out of fear of what it might be.
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anonymous1000462 Jan 2020
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If you have the chills, I would be inclined to go to the ER myself instead of waiting to get in to your
PCP or OBGYN. It can be any number of things & you need to be seen by a doctor.
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UTI's cause chills. You need to see your doctor so he can test your urine.
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It could be a lot of things. Go see a doctor.
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It’s not that I am a hypochondriac - it’s that I’m a worse case scenario thinker.

When I was a little girl I’d tell my mother that I had a headache and she would reply “I hope it’s not a brain tumor”. So, I come by this way of thinking somewhat naturally.

Much like you - when I have some out of the blue symptom rather than going to a doctor right away, I tend to ponder all the options. Or
worse yet - I start googling. And, of course - all the worse case scenarios are what I self diagnose.

Next - I decide that I’m just going to ignore it all cause it will go away by itself. Right? Because I refuse to deal with the stress that having a catastrophic illness would bring. Yeah - wishing it away or ignoring it is sooo effective.

Eventually, I wind up getting myself to the doctor - only to be diagnosed with something ridiculously minor and easily treatable. This - after days or weeks of worrying myself sick, all the while pretending that I’m not worried or have event spent any time at all thinking about it. My google history says different.

What is it that actually gets me to stop thinking about where I want my ashes scattered and motivates me to haul my dying azz into see a doctor?
The simple, common sense fact that IF - a big IF - IF it is anything scary or serious at all - the sooner it is identified, the sooner I can begin treatment and the greater my odds are at beating whatever IT is.

I am absolutely not saying that I believe you have anything serious to worry about. This spotting could be as simple as a UTI - as others have said. But whatever IT is - wouldn’t it be a relief to just find out and stop the wondering?
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anonymous1000462 Jan 2020
Thank you, I plan to call and get it checked out. I don't have a husband or anyone except some friends for support.. And it is just fear that I have and I think the worse. But you are right that way I don't have to keep wondering.
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Get yourself to Urgent Care in the morning if you don't have a regular doctor.

If you have a PCP that you see for your regular health care, call her/him in the morning and ask what to do.

Taking action and having a plan will decrease your fear. (((((Hugs)))). Let us know what you find out.
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Please don't ignore this. I don't think Urgent care is needed but would call ur PCP tomorrow.
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marciaw, this is just a long shot, did you eat beets recently? Beets can cause one's bodily function to be red. Also, you could have a hemorrhoid that is irritated and that bled.

As others had recommend, best to have a doctor check out every possible. Hopefully this is something very minor.
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anonymous1000462 Jan 2020
No I didn't eat beets but wish it was that simple. And yes hope its minor. thank you.
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I would have imagined most women can tell the difference between bleeding from the urethra or the vagina but from the answers given maybe not? In either case you know this is NOT NORMAL and needs to be investigated. It was a discussion on this forum about taking care of our own health that prompted me to stop ignoring some very minor bleeding of my own and I'm glad I did because it was endometrial cancer. Get it checked.
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Sendhelp Feb 2020
Cwillie,
It is not unusual for a woman not to know!
A patient was given a same day appointment when her mother called to say her 35 y.o. daughter was bleeding from her rear.
Turns out she was just having her period.

And the doctor was mad at me for allowing the appointment!
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I had the same thing. I'm 60. Turned out I had a benign polyp near my cervix. Painless procedure to remove it.
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It is out of fear, but after reading everyones post, I do plan to call my PCP and find out. It is just too scary if it is serious. I will keep you updated, thanks.
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I think since chills are involved it maybe a UTI. But I am a worrier too.
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worriedinCali Jan 2020
Yes I was going to say the same thing. Hopefully OP just has a UTI.
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Marcia, how are you?
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anonymous1000462 Jan 2020
I have an appointment scheduled for the 27th of January and haven't seen any spotting since 1st of January. But am having it checked out. Will keep everyone informed once it is figured out. Just wish I would stop thinking about it. Thank you.
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Bright red blood is from the rectum may be sign of anything from hemorrhoids, anal fissure, to an inflammatory bowel disorder to polyps of the gastrointestinal tract to rectal or bowel cancer. Dark red blood from the rectum or on the stool usually means that bleeding is somewhere above the rectum, so typically not hemorrhoids or anal fissure. Make a note of the appearance of the "spots" and when you see them. Make an appointment with your primary care MD today.

If you are 65, you are most likely covered by Medicare in some form. Medicare includes a colonoscopy as part of their recommended screenings, which should take place every 10 years starting at age 50. If you have never had a colonoscopy and have rectal bleeding, this is what the primary care MD will order for you. I had my second one done last year and the bowel prep was far easier than for the first one 10 years prior.

If you are uncertain where the bleeding is coming from, other workups may be needed. Bleeding from the vagina will need a gynecologist exam. Bleeding into the urine can be worked up by the primary care MD (they will do a urinalysis and culture to check for a urinary tract infection-UTI_ and other pathology.) If a UTI only, antibiotics may be prescribed. I had a UTI recently, which I thought would pass, but I started to have dull pain in my flank. The MD diagnosed ascending pyelonephritis, which would have landed me in the hospital if I let it go any longer. An antibiotic cured it.

It's possible to have rectal bleeding and a UTI at the same time. These are not related but still need to be investigated and treated. Don't wait any longer. You will feel more relieved once you put yourself in the hands of a physician who can find answers for you.
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Marcia,
How about if you let us do the worrying for you? ;-)
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anonymous1000462 Jan 2020
Thank you that would be nice, appreciate it.
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Marcia, You send this message to me that I think you intended to post to the entire forum so I'm posting it here:

"I am not sure how to post an update on my situation. I went to GYN and had a pap test on the 27th and waited for the results. However it came back as they didn't have enough cells. So I repeated the pap test.
Yesterday received a call that the pap test was normal.
What a relief.
Said its called vaginal atrophy.
Can be caused by no sexual activity.
Anyone hear of that? Thank you, I wanted to update everyone."

It sounds like you got really good news. I'm so happy for you!
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cwillie Feb 2020
thanks for copying that for us, I was wondering
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“Can be caused by no sexual activity.”

Not to make light of the situation...

But I have to admit I had a good giggle as to the potential remedy. Much more fun than “Two aspirin and call me in the morning”.
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JoAnn29 Feb 2020
I am 70 and have had dry problems for ages. Have to use a lubricant or I get really irritated to the point of very bad discomfort.
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I do hope this doctor was a gynecologist, I kind of wonder what kind of pap test could have been done on a woman who has had a total hysterectomy - no cervix to swab, right?
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Sendhelp Feb 2020
CWillie,
Only you would have noticed this....you are still bright as ever!
What she needs is an occult blood in stool test, imo.
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How does seeing bright red blood get caused by lack of sexual activity? I think you need to get more specific answers from the doc.
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Tothill Feb 2020
Vaginal Atrophy can lead to tears which can bleed. I had an Aunt who started to bleed after wiping herself. Tears can happen while walking, panties rubbing on the Vuvla etc.

There is a new belief that vaginal dryness should be treated to help maintain a healthy Vagina and Vulva. Special moisturizers are used.

Sexual activity keeps the pelvic floor muscles in shape and contribute to natural lubrication and keeps dryness at bay.
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Radical hysterectomy: complete removal of the uterus, cervix, upper vagina, and parametrium. Lymph nodes, ovaries, and fallopian tubes are also usually removed in this situation.

Total hysterectomy: complete removal of the uterus and cervix, with or without removing the ovaries.

Subtotal hysterectomy: removal of the uterus, leaving the cervix in.

I had a “total” hysterectomy back in 2016. I was looking on the bright side when I made a comment to my surgeon about not having to giddy-up into the stirrups ever again. Bursting my happy moment my surgeon reminded me that my ovaries were being left intact for the tiny bit of estrogen they produced - and they needed to be checked every two years. Oh well.

But cwillie is absolutely correct. Having no cervix pretty much makes a tradition Pap smear impossible.
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https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginal-atrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352288

Here's what Dr Google says on the subject, including vaginal atrophy being caused from lack of intercourse. The OP must have had a partial hysterectomy, not a full one.
Estrogen can reverse this condition.

Good luck!
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anonymous1000462 Feb 2020
I had a total hysterectomy in May of 1996 due to cervical cancer,
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I checked that article out and it says atrophy can be related to no sexual activity, with or without a partner - and that isn't the same thing as no intercourse 😉
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The OP is correct, a PAP Smear or a SWAB is done after TAH.

"Similarly, if you had a partial hysterectomy or a total hysterectomy — when both the uterus and cervix are removed — for a cancerous or precancerous condition, regular Pap tests may still be recommended as an early detection tool to monitor for a new cancer or precancerous change."

Marciaw419,
What can we say to confuse matters worse?🤦‍♀️

Hope you are not scared after getting checked out.
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We are all sorry Marcia.
It was scary to have a cancer diagnosis.
Glad that it is cured now.

We get carried away sometimes, making us human caregivers.
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cwillie Feb 2020
The OP never mentioned cancer as the reason for her hysterectomy.
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Thank you, Sendhelp!
Marciaw419 came to this forum because she was terrified about some bleeding. I think she needed some advice from anyone with experience, but I think mostly she just wanted to have her own fears and anxieties lifted a bit by sharing. Most of us are not doctors, so I think the best we can do sometimes is give love and support.
XOXO
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anonymous1000462 Feb 2020
Thank you, very well worded and that is exactly what I needed, I was terrified. Seemed to be let down by some.
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15 years ago when my mother was 80 years old my mother had vaginal bleeding. She never had a hysterectomy. She called the doctor but then she got scared and cancelled the appointment. The doctor sent her a certified letter with return receipt to my mother insisting she come in. They checked her out and found out it was nothing, but they do did a D&C at the outpatient hospital. She never had bleeding since then.
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Marcia, if you have no cervix, then no need for a pap smear. Thats what a pap smear is for, detecting cervical cancer.

But glad everything seems OK.
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anonymous1000462 Feb 2020
They did a pap smear for screening of malignant neoplasm of the vagina. They still called it a pap test even though I don't have a cervix.
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Thanks for explaining Marcia.
Forgive us that do not read back farther, and those who cannot find your answers in the 'REPLY'. It is more of an issue with the function of the website, not you. And not that we caregivers here do not care about you, and not that we cannot identify with you or the very real fears you are experiencing. We do care!

Do not ignore getting ALL the tests needed to make sure there is no cancer.
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Marcia, I'm not trying to alarm you, really!. Is the bright red blood coming from the front (vaginal or urethral area) or from your rectum? If you have an old tampon lying around, you can figure out pretty easily if it is vaginal or urethral blood.

It really matters what you tell the doctor what you are seeing so that s/he can do the right testing.

Ffolks of the over 60 age group were brought up in what I like to say was the "total silence" era. I was told never to discuss my period with ANYONE. (Geez, what was that about, mom?).

Fortunately, we live in more enlightened times.

Wishingvyou all the best!!!
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Barb,
Yes, I was brought up in that same 'silent' era when our periods were not mentioned.
When my mother saw that I was bleeding into the toilet, not knowing what to do, she panicked and ran through the house, yelling for my father....."Paul, Paul, go to the store to get your daughter some kotex!". I had siblings, one was a brother.

The silent era. I was so embarrassed!

All of us are going to take blood spotting more seriously, thanks to Marcia!
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